Closed goggles structure



Oct. 7, 1952 w. R. CHRISTENSEN ETAL CLOSED GOGGLES STRUCTURE Filed June 8, 1949 4 rrolwvsy Patented Oct. 7, 1952 CLOSED GOGGLES STRUCTURE William R. Christensen, Newton Highlands, and Chester E. Cross, East Sandwich, Mass.

Application June 8, 1949, Serial No. 97,867

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

3 Claims.

The invention described herein, if patented,

may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to anti-fogging and antifrosting goggles structure. More particularly, the invention relates to goggles structure of the double-lens type, provided with an improved closed air-circulating system including means for cooling and dehumidifying the air entrapped within the eyecup cavities.

In order to provide a goggles structure which may be utilized under low ambient temperature conditions, it is necessary to provide the goggles with an air-circulatory system which keeps the goggles lenses free of moisture and at the same time prevents undue chilling of theeyes.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide animproved flexible goggles incorporating means to cool and dehumidify'the air in the eyecup cavities.

Further, it is an object of this invention to provide a flexible goggles having a new and improved condenser structure for cooling and dehumidifying the air in the eyecup cavities of the goggles frame.

It is another object of this invention to provide a new and improved goggles structure in which frosting or fogging of the goggles is prevented without undue chilling of the eyes.

Further objects, advantages, adaptations and modifications of this invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of goggles-structure embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line 2 2 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is an exploded fragmentary perspective view of one of the condensers used in the goggles of the present invention and a portion of the frame for the goggles.

Referring to the drawings, goggles frame l comprises a conventional, flexible, rubber-type structure having a resilient face-contacting side ll, extended web l2 and flexible bead 13, within which is a conventional flexible, lens-holding roove I4.

As above indicated, the goggles frame I0 is of conventional character and the groove I4 is adapted to be flexed for the insertion of goggles lens [5 in the usual and conventional manner. In addition to the holding groove [4, there are provided conventional snap-fasteners It for clamping or securing the lens l5 into groove [4. Goggles frame I0 is also provided with a conamended April 30, 1928; 3'70 0. G. 757) ventional head-strap I'I, threaded through lugs or ears l8 with an enlarged end secured in T-groove IS in lens l5 of conventional construction and in a conventional manner.

The face contacting part II of the goggles frame is overlaid with a layer of chamois or cloth H and the lower portion of this coating is extended to provide a nose protector 20. Any suitable rubber cellulosic or resinous adhesive may be used to secure this covering to the part II of frame l0.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, there is attached across the top of goggles frame I0 a series of condensers -2l. The condensers 2| comprise rectangularly-shaped box-like housings having end walls 22 and front and back walls 23, molded from a conventional cellulosic material such as cellulose acetate or the like or fabricated from sheeted cellulose acetate, resin or the like, cut into strip form and folded in rectangular shape, with the meeting ends of the strip joined together'and sealed at their edges by a suitable adhesive in the nature of latex, resin, or cellulose;

or the like. The upper'portions of the front and back walls 23 are serrated and a serrated or undulating cover plate 24 is joined thereto by a suitable rubber, cellulosic or resinous adhesive. This serrated covering plate 24 is formed of thin, metallic sheeting in the nature of copper, tin, aluminum, or the like, which aifords a good heatconducting surface of relatively large area.

Secured within the condensers 2| and extending longitudinally thereof is a pair of relatively closely spaced plates, formed of plastic rectangular pieces 25 and 25. The upper edges of these plates engage the undersides of the lowermost portions of the undulations in the top wall 24 so as to divide the housing into front and rear passages intercommunicating through the channel-s formed on the underside of the top wall by the undulations therein. The lower ends of the partition plates 25, 25', extend below the lower edge of the condenser housing in close contact with the opposite sides of a transparent partition 26 in the frame [0 behind the lens I 5.

The condensers 2! project upwardly through a series of rectangular openings 21 in the web l2 across the top portion of goggles frame l0. These rectangular openings 21 are provided with flexible upstanding flanges 28 adapted to flexibly clamp the bottom edges of the walls of the condensers 2| tightly to hold the condensers in the goggles frame, or the condensers may be sealed to the openings 21 by use of any suitable rubber, cellulosic or resinous adhesive, as desired.

As shown in Fig. 2, the condenser partition,

comprising plates 25 and 25, is adapted to clamp the upper edge of the transparent partition 26 within the goggles frame structure. This transparent partition rests, at its base portion, against the inner edge of bead I3 and is provided along its lower periphery witha plurality of openings 29, which afford communication between the space defined by this partition and lens 26 and I5 respectively and the space to the rear thereof containing air warmed by contact with the wearer.

It has been discovered that, for certain applications and uses, the transparent partition 25 may be eliminated, if desired, as, for example, where the goggles are to be worn under moderate fogging and frosting conditions. In the event that the transparent partition 26 is eliminated,

it is desirable to position the condenser plate 25 on a slight angle or with the lower portion. bent forward towards lens I5 to induce air passing through the condenser and into the goggles structuretoimpinge upon the'inner surface of the lens. Further, a single condensero; the character described may be constructed asa separateunit and applied to the rib I2 tnex'tend across the eyecup cavities. of the gogglesframe, or otherwise the ends 22 and front and back sides 23 may bemolded with "the goggles frame and a suitable metallic heat-conductor top 24 joined thereto:

, With'an arrangement of the: character described and the goggles adjusted against the face of a wearer, normal body heat will cause moisture laden air to flow by convection from the portion of the eyecup cavities to the rear of transparent partition 25 into thefcondensers it where it contacts the heat-conductive, serrated 'top' 24 and deposits moisture thereon as it passes over the partition plates 125, 25 in the condenser; Thereafter the semi-dried passes downwardly through the condenserand into the space be tween the lens- !5- and transparent partition 26. Since; the air which passes downwardly between lens It and transparentpartition as has: been cooled and relieved of a: moisture content fogging and hosting of thelensi's prevented. .Airfrom the narrow space flows through openings. 29, back into the space adjacent to the eyes containing." air warmedby contact the'Wearers face from which space it. is recirculated through the condensers'fi l; 7- r In accordance with the patent statutes, the foregoing is a descriptionindetail ofwhat. is'now considered to be the preferred form of the inventi'orr him it will;be obvious that various minor changes may be: made-in thestructural details without departing from the spirit of the inven tion, and it is intended that all such changes he included within thescope of the appended claims.

- We claim: I

1. In an anti-fogging and anti-frostinggoggles having. a lenssupportedinv a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating. with the lens to d'efineasealed space around the eyes ofa wearer the combination comprising, one or more condensers along the top of said irame, sai-d condensers each comprising a generallyhex-like housing having an undulating top wall, partitioning means to divide-said housing into. one or more inlet and one or more outlet passages; said passages communicating with said sealed space at their lower ends and the top edge of said partitioning means engaging against the lowermost portions of the undulations in said t Wall so that communication between the upper ends of the passages in said housing is confined to the channels formed between undulations on the inner side of said top wall; and air deflecting means cooperating with the partitioning means to isolate the lower ends of the inlet and outlet passages from direct communication with each other and also cooperating with the lens to promote convectionalflow of air from the space in the goggles containing air warmed by contact with the wearers face through the upper end of the condenser and along the inner side of said lens back to the said warm air space in the goggles at a point opposite the condensers.

2. A goggles as define'din claim 1 whereinthe undulated top-wall is formed from, a material" of high thermal conductivity to increase the efficiency ofthe condenser.

3. In an anti-fogging and anti-frosting goggles having a lens supported in a frame which has a flexible face contacting part cooperating with the lens to define a sealed space around'the eyes of a wearer the combination comprising, one or more condensers along the top of saidframe,'sai-d condensers each comprising a housing having an undulating top wall, a pair of relatively closely spaced plates forming a partition dividing sail housing into one or more inlet and one or more outlet passages; said passages communicating with said: sealed space'at their lower ends and the'top edge of said spaced plates engaging the lowermost portions of the undulations' in said top wall so that communication between the front and. rear passages is confined to the channel's formedby the undulations on the inner side. of said top wall; and a transparent partition sealed in said frame behind said. lens'to define. a narrow closed space communicating-adjacent the-lower edge of the frame with. the space behind thev pariii face of a wearer and cooperating with the'lens and said condenser partition means to. direct the discharge from said condenserinto the upper end of said closed space'and to confine communica tion of theinlet'side: of said condenser to the space behind. said transparent partition containing air warmedby contact with thewearers face so that aflow of air-fromsaid latter space to the condenser and from the'latte-r to the closed space and from this space backto the warmed air-space is maintained convectionally;

WILLIAM R. CHRISTENSEN. CHESTER E. CROSS.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS,

' Date Number Name r 1,670,638 Shindel May 22, 1928 24 49514 Fischer Mar. 7, 1939 

